Make sure your summer beauty look is 100 per cent beach-proof and avoid make-up meltdown with our insider tricks and tips

When the mercury is rising, how on earth do you stop your make-up from sliding south, your lipstick looking too intense and your mascara giving you panda eyes, while emerging picture-perfect for those summer holiday snaps?

It's actually surprisingly easy to pull off a glamorous, cool-as-a-cucumber look on the beach although most of your regular cosmetics won't be up to the job. Go for an understated look, and invest in a clutch of hard-working and long-wearing beauty essentials that will withstand the heat and still look fresh and pretty at the sunset bar.

For skin that survives the heat
Think healthy, radiant skin is impossible to achieve when it's hot and humid? Leave the heavy foundation and blush at home, and aim to even out your complexion and enhance a sun-kissed glow; your best bet is a tinted moisturiser or light, oil-free foundation with added sunscreens, although you'll also need a separate facial sun protection lotion.

If you have good skin, you might like to try a facial moisturiser containing a hint of self-tan, which will build gradually during your holiday to a natural-looking glow.

For eyes that look fresh all day long
With a range of on-trend colours and formulations at your fingertips, water-resistant eye make-up is really easy to find, and essential in ensuring a glamorous beach beauty look that goes the distance.

'You can easily stop your eye make-up from going awol,' says Rimmel celebrity make-up artist, Lee Pycroft. 'If you are applying liquid liner, make sure the lid is well powdered first so the liner doesn't smudge into the socket of the eye, and if using a pencil make sure it is not too greasy. A denser texture will give a better colour payoff and hold longer. Apply to a powdered eyelid and pat with a fingertip to blend. Remember, sex kittens can get away with a little smudging round the eyes!'

Waterproof mascara is your secret weapon when you're in and out of the water, defining lashes while allowing you to emerge from the sea looking like the bona fide beach babe you are.

Or why not push the boat out and check in for a touch of semi-permanent eye make-up. Leading semi-permanent make-up specialist Alison Doughty works wonders with eyebrows and eyeliner, and the results last up to three years. Visit www.permanentmakeup.org.uk, or call 01273 777456 for more information.

For lips that last until sundown
If you must wear lip colour on the beach, choose a non-transfer formulation. 'Try using a lip pencil first then blotting your lip colour or gloss over the top,' says Lee Pycroft. 'A long-lasting lipstick can also be effective in terms of staying power. Again, patting it on will give a lighter result rather than looking too painted and obvious.'

Alternatively, invest in a tinted lip balm or lip gloss, ideally with added sunscreens, which you can dab on with a fingertip.

Complete your foolproof summer look with a generous spritz of water based spritz or a toner. This will lift your spirits, refresh your senses and keep that beach feeling going long after the sun has set.